2015 Federal Election - where do the parties stand?

auracle said:
Its like the liberal party lives in a different country. They know that that these measures are in place already but deliberately put these in to scare those who are uneducated about firearms.
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When it comes to politics we have to read between the lines. I agree that the liberals most assuredly know the current laws and regulations in regards to firearms. Asking for a person's PAL to be presented for a purchase can currently be done over the internet via an attached picture of your PAL. Asking, as stipulated in a potential future Liberal endorsed regulation, that it be verified in person, would change the way we purchase firearms essentially. This would drastically cut back firearms purchases, as you would have to be in a store nearby to make a purchase. Don't kid yourself, they've most likely thought of this.
 
TV-PressPass said:
Thanks Kate! That's my first time doing an on camera "sit and chat" and it was a ton of fun!

I suspect that a lot of the information in here isn't new to CGN members, but you'd be surprised. We're not always as monolithic as I like to imagine. I found myself at a social gathering last week and meeting another firearms owner there who somewhat excitedly/drunkenly told me "how good Canada's magazine laws are because 5 rounds is really enough." My point being that what feels clear and obvious to us online sometimes gets missed by the less passionate or informed out there. I hope that this sort of video helps share some of the basic party positions of this election to a wider audience.

I wanted to expand on the video a little bit with the raw text from different platforms in regards to firearms...

The Conservatives:

This comes from their policy declaration in November 2, 2013.

96. Firearms

A Conservative Government is committed to cost-effective gun control programs designed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals while respecting the rights of law-abiding Canadians to own and use firearms responsibly.

Measures will include: mandatory minimum sentences for the criminal use of firearms; strict monitoring of high-risk individuals; increased enforcement and prosecution of smuggling; safe storage provisions; firearms safety training; a certification screening system for all those wishing to acquire firearms legally; and putting more law enforcement officers on our streets.

We recognize the legitimacy of private ownership of firearms and will resist any domestic or international pressure to the contrary.​


From the Conservative Party 2015 campaign plan:

The Penalties for the Criminal Possession of Firearms Act will restore mandatory minimum penalties for the illegal possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, such as fully automatic weapons, sawed-off rifles, or handguns, for the purpose of committing a serious offence or in a place where there is a real risk of harm to innocent bystanders. This will apply the full force of the law to offenders who engage in serious criminal behavior while exempting law-abiding gun owners who store their weapons legally.​



The Liberals:

There's been a lot of good deconstruction of this platform already. I'll let the document speak for itself.

We will take action to get handguns and assault weapons off our streets.

We will take pragmatic action to make it harder for criminals to get, and use, handguns and assault weapons. We will:

  • repeal changes made by Bill C-42 that allow restricted and prohibited weapons to be freely transported without a permit, and we will put decision-making about weapons restrictions back in the hands of police, not politicians;
  • provide $100 million each year to the provinces and territories to support guns and gangs police task forces to take illegal guns off our streets and reduce gang violence;
  • modify the membership of the Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee to include knowledgeable law enforcement officers, public health advocates, representatives from women’s groups, and members of the legal community;
  • require enhanced background checks for anyone seeking to purchase a handgun or other restricted firearm;
  • require purchasers of firearms to show a license when they buy a gun, and require all sellers of firearms to confirm that the license is valid before completing the sale;
  • require firearms vendors to keep records of all firearms inventory and sales to assist police in investigating firearms trafficking and other gun crimes;
  • immediately implement the imported gun marking regulations that have been repeatedly delayed by Stephen Harper;
  • and as part of our investment in border infrastructure, invest in technologies to enhance our border guards’ ability to detect and halt illegal guns from the United States entering into Canada.

We will not create a new national long-gun registry to replace the one that has been dismantled.

We will ensure that Canada becomes a party to the international Arms Trade Treaty.​

The NDP:

The only official reference to firearms in the NDP official 2015 election platform is contained in their safe communities section:

The NDP’s plan for safer communities starts with an investment in more front-line police officers.

It is boots on the ground that help to fight crime, not empty Conservative promises.

Stephen Harper’s plan is failing and despite years of his ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric, the number of police officers per capita in Canada has been on the decline.

For example, this past spring Stephen Harper promised the people of Surrey, BC, additional RCMP support to help address the city’s increasing concerns over guns and gang violence, but he has failed to deliver.

To help police protect our communities, the NDP will:

Work with provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous communities to provide stable, ongoing funding to put 2,500 new officers on the streets and keep them there.

In addition, the NDP will boost community safety in Canada by:
Providing the Canada Border Services Agency with additional support to make our borders more efficient for travellers, and secure for all Canadians. Ensuring that communities have the resources they need to invest in crime prevention and anti-gang programs – especially those designed for youth – by investing an additional $30 million.

Giving police the tools they need to do their job by tackling the backlog in the Canadian Police Information Centre database, known as CPIC, a national tool for police and prosecutors to check the criminal history of suspects and those charged with or convicted of new offences.​


The Libertarians:

While I don't think the Libertarian party is about to form a government anytime soon, they're position is one of a kind.

Gun Ownership:

The official position of the Libertarian Party of Canada is to remove the prohibitions and legislative obstacles for the ownership of guns by peaceful citizens for the purposes of recreation, self-defence and hunting.

If elected, the Libertarian Party of Canada would:

  • Repeal section 91 and 92 of the Criminal Code to make responsible gun possession legal
  • Revise the legal definition of weapon and firearm to reflect that guns are tools when in the hands of qualified civilians
  • Eliminate the provincial and territorial Chief Firearms Offices as a cost saving mechanism and transfer responsible gun ownership to a certification based system
  • Eliminate the unfair search and seizure provisions under the Firearms Act and reverse the onus provisions so that citizens are not labelled criminals before their day in court

​



The Green Party makes zero reference to firearms in their 2015 policy document, but as mentioned in the video, have had some mixed messages recently around guns and gun owners.

That's it! Make sure you vote!
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The green party I spoke with her personaly. She is ok with hunting and ok with firearms she just wants to keep the guns out of the hands of criminals and reads every bill. So if she thinks the government would get sued over something no matter how good and fuzzy feeling it would be she is against it if it violates the charter rights. Why should the government pass a law that is going to just get thrown out down the road and cost tax payers lots of money in the process..

Pro hunting... Pro freedoms... pro saving money... not a bad party.... You should see the debates she went against the other partys they just attack attack attack and avoide answering any questions was funny to see the green party leader got mad and had good answers to the hard questions and actually answered them directly. She's got some balls.
 
Let's also remember that the Liberals and NDP essentially just want to get elected, and don't want to alienate any potential support at this time, but within their ranks there are definite strong elements for gun control. The Young Liberals proposed that the Australian system of firearm regulation be admitted into the official party platform, and though it was rejected, it could be argued that this was again because of what I mentioned above. If either forms government they will face strong pressure from within to 'update' our firearm laws, including the list of restricted and prohibited firearms.
 
kdubz said:
Let's also remember that the Liberals and NDP essentially just want to get elected, and don't want to alienate any potential support at this time, but within their ranks there are definite strong elements for gun control. The Young Liberals proposed that the Australian system of firearm regulation be admitted into the official party platform, and though it was rejected, it could be argued that this was again because of what I mentioned above. If either forms government they will face strong pressure from within to 'update' our firearm laws, including the list of restricted and prohibited firearms.
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Very true and not just the young Liberals. They avoid saying it publicly, however, I have had discussions with enough NDP and Liberal card holders, and the end goal from within is to push for a complete firearms ban.
 
TV-PressPass said:
Hey that's a heck of a find! Funny that they put it on the site, but not in their policy document.
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I have communicated with them quite extensively about their stance on firearms, which was updated a few months ago. I have a feeling that they don't see firearms legislation as a hot-button issue or something that needs immediate attention.

I doubt many people are willing to read 184 pages of policy either, so they seem to have boiled it down to 44 pages of the essentials.
 
realtrade said:
Very true and not just the young Liberals. They avoid saying it publicly, however, I have had discussions with enough NDP and Liberal card holders, and the end goal from within is to push for a complete firearms ban.
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I am guessing you didn't see the reaction of party members to that young liberal proposition. There were pages and pages of negative comments on the policy written by members of the party.
 
Excellent work!! Great review of the party platforms on the subject.

The Green Party has always struck me as a bit of a hybrid party looking for a place to happen. Hybrid meaning their platform seems to fit within each other party in some way, and they actually try to perform in an honest manner.
 
klatham said:
I am guessing you didn't see the reaction of party members to that young liberal proposition. There were pages and pages of negative comments on the policy written by members of the party.
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No I did not see the reaction, but I would hope it was like you and I would react to such a proposal.

Specific to my conversations, surprisingly the attitude has come from people in Alberta. Must be our new Albertan's. Haha.
 
We haven't learned as the Liberal party, if you're going to form, if you're going to develop policy if you're going to implement policy, you have to form government. And we need rural Canada in our camp. And I can tell you gun control cost us in rural Canada at least 60 seats
-- Wayne Easter, Feb 21, 2014, 2014 Liberal Convention, re Young Liberals Of Canada, Australia system, near 23 minutes
http://www.cpac.ca/en/programs/cpac-special/episodes/90002961/
 
rangebob said:
We haven't learned as the Liberal party, if you're going to form, if you're going to develop policy if you're going to implement policy, you have to form government. And we need rural Canada in our camp. And I can tell you gun control cost us in rural Canada at least 60 seats
-- Wayne Easter, Feb 21, 2014, 2014 Liberal Convention, re Young Liberals Of Canada, Australia system, near 23 minutes
http://www.cpac.ca/en/programs/cpac-special/episodes/90002961/
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Thanks rangebob. Good info once again.
 
klatham said:
I am guessing you didn't see the reaction of party members to that young liberal proposition. There were pages and pages of negative comments on the policy written by members of the party.
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Naturally there would be, but was this really an aversion to the policy, or an aversion to alienating segments of the electorate from voting Liberal, such as in areas outside our major cities where many guns are found? The Liberals have real chances of taking ridings in Manitoba and BC, as well as places like North Bay Ontario. They don't want to blow there chances in areas where people own guns. We all know what they say and what they'll do are more often than not two different things. All I'm saying, is gun control is a definite element within both the NDP and Liberal parties. Of course, they'll say whatever they need to to get elected.
 
Kate I like your business and I`m happy to support it, along with other sponsors who have been posting pro conservative stuff.

But what happened to the old British Isles philosophy on the discussion of religion, ### and politics?

I guess CGN is not polite company...
 
klatham said:
I am guessing you didn't see the reaction of party members to that young liberal proposition. There were pages and pages of negative comments on the policy written by members of the party.
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Bill C-68 was never part of an election platform.
 
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